From Brooks:

"Dear Easter Bunny:  Thank you for the dyed eggs.  All Easter is about is GOD."

Well said, little man.

Writing a letter to the Easter Bunny.
Funny that he's wearing the green ears since he's the kid who had a FIT when I tried to get him to wear a pink tie into church this morning.

Must write letter...just like Brother.

So sweet looking for what the Easter Bunny left him.  He was up at 6:00 this morning ready to go.  

Not happy to be awake at 6:00 this morning but excited that the Easter Bunny kissed her nose and excited that she got to have candy for breakfast.

Impossible to get a good picture of the two together.  When one is happy the other is sad.  When one is obedient the other is disobedient.  When one is willing the other is unwilling.  (You get the idea.)

We had an intense workout session with our kiddos the other night.  Complete with sweat towels, wrist bands, soccer socks and water bottles.      

Chloe has the best sense of humor.  

She's a very shy girl and it takes forever for her to warm up to anyone new.  This includes someone who is new to the room, it could be a total stranger or even a familiar face like her daddy.

  She is very selective in who she lets into her world, but once she decides she's comfortable with you, she's funny, goofy, spunky and full of humor.  

This is Chloe smiling for the camera.   

It went on and on.  

She thought she was is so funny.

Our Super Hero Brooks had a SUPER birthday.  He had family come from near and far to celebrate his big day.  Brooks conducted himself so well.  He was fun, polite, thankful and extra cute.  

It's like he's FIVE or something.

We did have one big storm this year.  The kids took full advantage, of course.

Today marks the last official day of winter.  They are calling the winter of 2012 the winter that "wasn't".  I know that some are sad that we didn't have winter, but not this momma.  I can't stand being cold and love that in the middle of February the kids were outside without mittens, wearing spring jackets, stomping around in the snow.   Missing out on winter is a beautiful thing.

Happy Birthday, Brooks.  We can't believe you are five. 

Here are some five year old stats about our little man:

--Brooks wears size 7 clothing

--Brooks weighs 65 pounds and is pure muscle

--Brooks loves to swim and can dive into the deep end without a life jacket 

--Brooks loves basketball (a huge change from last year, when it was only hockey)

--Brooks is tender beyond his age and his feeling are easily hurt

--Brooks is easily embarrassed, even when he doesn't need to be

--Brooks would prefer to never be the center of attention

--Brooks never stops smiling and he smiles with his whole body

--Brooks goes to pre-school 3 days a week and will start Kindergarten next year at LCA

--Brooks loves to have dance parties and has some seriously sweet dance moves

--Brooks loves broccoli, steak, beans, red and yellow peppers and chicken

--Brooks prefers the above foods over cookies and sweets

--Brooks goes to bed between 7:00 and 8:00 every night and is easy to put to bed

--Brooks wakes up between 5:00 and 6:00 almost every morning and struggles to sleep-in

--Brooks' best friends are his cousins Kennedy and Maggie 

--Brooks says prayers every night before bed and comes up with some pretty sweet stuff (example: "I pray mommy has no more pimples.")

--Brooks loves to watch Superhero Squad, Curious George and Arthur

--Brooks has size 2 feet and fits best in Crocs because of their width

--Brooks sweats like a man and needs a bath every single night

--Brooks loves his sister and lately has been loving the role of being her "protector"

--Brooks loves to get massages and rubs 

--Brooks rarely sits still and walking doesn't come naturally to him

--Brooks doesn't need toys and prefers dress-up, sports and imaginative play

--Brooks rides his bike like a mad-man and is amazing on grass, rocks and obstacles

--Brooks never wants to take a school bus

--Brooks is afraid of dogs

--Brooks can run a half of a mile on the treadmill with daddy standing behind him, of course

--Brooks has lots of questions about God and a heart for the Lord already

--Brooks loves to spend the day with his Opa and carries on a very mature conversation when one-on- one

--Brooks is a pure joy and a blessing

We love our little man.

Happy Birthday, Buddy.

XOXO

While Chloe played outside her brother worked.  Brooks is just like his daddy in so many ways.  I'm so thankful that he has a daddy who is not lazy, takes on any/all projects with a smile and puts his family first.  Brooks watches that and mimics it.  I couldn't ask for a better example of how a man should be.  Brooks' wife is going to be a lucky woman.  (No, we are not trying to marry Brooks off at age 4.)

Don't get me wrong, we encourage Brooks to play and be a kid but often he'd prefer to work, help, haul, assist, dig, sweep, clean, and be the "man" of the house.  He is his daddy's little helper, that's for sure.  

Since there is very little snow this winter (YES!), Brooks wanted to work on shoveling the yard.  Yup, the yard.  He's so strong and coordinated for a 4 year old.  It's fun to watch him.  

He amazes us in many ways.

And Chloe?  She amazes us too and just happens to be very very very cute. But, I'll let you decide that for yourselves. 

Chloe really missed her brother while we were away.  

When Brooks and Chloe decide to love each other and get along (and yes, they decide this and are perfectly capable of turning it on and off within seconds), it's amazing to watch them play.  Brooks takes such good care of Chloe.  We've been telling Brooks since the day Chloe was born that he needs to protect his sister.  And, on most days, he does a great job.